Publications by authors named "Lillian Christon"

Article Synopsis
  • - A multidisciplinary committee created guidelines for managing CRMS/CFSPID, developing 24 key questions based on feedback from patients and clinicians, existing recommendations, and expert input.
  • - The committee conducted a systematic review and made 30 recommendations, most of which had moderate to low certainty due to the lack of high-quality evidence, primarily relying on case studies rather than randomized trials.
  • - Key guidelines include thorough genetic evaluation, repeat sweat testing until age 8, limited medication use with shared decision-making, and improved communication about social health factors, alongside a call for future research on medications and lung disease monitoring.
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Objective: Sarcoidosis-associated fatigue is a debilitating consequence of sarcoidosis, a multi-system inflammatory disease, and may be related to increased stress associated with sarcoidosis. Breathing awareness meditation has potential as an intervention for managing stress and fatigue for sarcoidosis patients (SPs). This project's aim was to obtain feedback from key informants to design and tailor a patient-centered (SPARC) mHealth App developed for SPs to manage fatigue and stress at home using breathing awareness meditation.

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The South Carolina cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS) program changed in 2019 to include CFTR genotyping for babies with top 4% immunoreactive trypsinogen, which improves sensitivity and timeliness but increases carrier detection. Carrier identification has genetic implications for the family and parents of NBS+ babies have increased emotional distress. Genetic counseling (GC) may increase parent understanding and reduce anxiety yet is not uniformly offered at CF centers.

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Fatigue is the most reported symptom in patients with sarcoidosis (SPs) and is a significant predictor of decreased quality of life that is strongly associated with stress and negative mood states. Few medications exist for treating fatigue in SPs, and outpatient physical rehabilitation programs are limited by availability and cost. Sarcoidosis in the US predominantly impacts minorities and underserved populations who are of working age and often have limited resources (e.

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Caregivers of adults with cancer often provide prolonged demanding assistance (e.g., physical, emotional) to their loved ones, resulting in caregiver burden.

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Tens of thousands of patients with advanced lung diseases may be eligible to be considered as potential candidates for lung transplant around the world each year. The timing of referral, evaluation, determination of candidacy, and listing of candidates continues to pose challenges and even ethical dilemmas. To address these challenges, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation appointed an international group of members to review the literature, to consider recent advances in the management of advanced lung diseases, and to update prior consensus documents on the selection of lung transplant candidates.

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the indication for transplantation in approximately 15% of recipients worldwide, and Cystic Fibrosis Lung Transplant Recipients (CFLTRs) have excellent long-term outcomes. Yet, CFLTRs have unique comorbidities that require specialized care. The objective of this document is to provide recommendations to CF and lung transplant clinicians for the management of perioperative and underlying comorbidities of CFLTRs and the impact of transplantation on these comorbidities.

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The purpose of this article is to provide a data-driven exploration of an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (PRP) as a viable option for addressing the dual crises of chronic pain and opioid use. Psychologists are crucial providers in the PRP, in both intervention and leadership roles. There is well-established literature supporting pain rehabilitation as an effective treatment for chronic pain and functioning, but there are few studies examining the effects of pain rehabilitation on opioid misuse risk.

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Objective: Utilization of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has not been widely adopted by primary care providers. This study sought to identify interprofessional barriers and facilitators for use of MOUD (specifically naltrexone and buprenorphine) among current and future primary care providers in a southeastern academic center in South Carolina.

Method: Faculty, residents, and students within family medicine, internal medicine, and a physician assistant program participated in focus group interviews, and completed a brief survey.

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This is the second of two companion papers that examine the emotional wellness of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) during the early years of life, defined here as the period between birth and age 12. Both papers promote optimal mental health and well-being, with an emphasis on early identification and intervention. The first paper explores child and family resilience.

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Attention should be given to individual and family well-being from a child's first interaction with the medical team and continuing throughout development, especially for families who experience chronic illnesses, such as cystic fibrosis (CF). While much attention has been given to the mental health of people with CF 12 years and older, this paper explores various areas for CF teams to assess and provide additional resources during the first 12 years of a child's life to promote child and family wellness. In this paper, we discuss parental mental health, social determinants of health, adherence/self-care, nutrition, attention to family lifestyle factors, engagement with school and peers, and modulator therapy for this age group of people with CF.

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Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) save lives, but often induce significant psychological distress among patients. Positive psychological constructs are associated with improved outcomes among cardiac patients. In this NHLBI-funded randomized controlled trial, one aim was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a positive psychology intervention (Quality of Life Therapy; QOLT, n = 11), compared to a Heart Healthy Education (HHE) control (n = 10), among ICD patients.

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Objective: This mixed-methods study examined perspectives of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cystic fibrosis (CF) and health care providers on body image communication.

Methods: Interviews and questionnaires were completed by 20 AYAs and 28 providers.

Results: Although 85% of patients reported they had never had a body image conversation with a health care provider, 74% of providers reported discussing this topic with patients.

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Background: Improving mental and physical health of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) is critical because this group is at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death and depressed or anxious cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients appear to be at even higher risk for mortality compared to nondepressed or nonanxious CVD patients. Further, autonomic dysfunction is present in these patients, and negative emotions and arrhythmias form a downward spiral further worsening mood, well-being, and cardiovascular health. Much research demonstrates that positive emotion is related to health benefits, improved physiology, and increased survival.

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Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receive intervention services from multiple professionals across disciplines. Little is known about services for youth with ASD in community settings. The purpose of this study was to provide data on professionals' self-reported practices across different classes of psychosocial interventions for youth with ASD.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Food deprivation did not impact NULLs' predation capabilities, suggesting that LACTs' enhanced hunting skills are not solely due to increased hunger, while sensory factors like olfaction and hearing played a minimal role.
  • * The research highlighted the importance of visual stimuli in enhancing predation in LACTs, showing that testing in low light reduced their hunting advantage, and also noted improved predatory behavior in pregnant rats at certain stages of pregnancy.
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This study analyzed Virginia data from the most recent National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Logistic regression models were run for six Maternal and Child Health Bureau core outcomes and included demographics, child characteristics, health care providers, and health care access variables as predictors. Race/ethnicity disparities were judged to be present if the race/ethnicity variable was a significant predictor in the final model.

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The present work examines the relationship between reproductive experience (comprising breeding, parturition, and lactation) and the behavioral and hormonal processes of fear and stress in the female laboratory rat. Previous research has indicated that reproductive experience functions to decrease the female's stress response in potentially harmful environments, thereby providing her with numerous survival benefits, including decreased fearfulness, increased aggression, and refined hunting skills. This study was designed to determine how nulliparous (no reproductive experience), primiparous (1 reproductive experience) and multiparous (at least 2 reproductive experiences) rats respond to a Pavlovian paradigm of learned fear, involving the pairing of a neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus) with an aversive stimulus (unconditioned stimulus).

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Article Synopsis
  • Maternal behavior involves many complex actions beyond just caring for offspring, including protecting against predators and enhancing skills like foraging and nest building.
  • Mothers face a difficult choice between staying safe with their young or venturing out for resources, leading to adaptations in abilities such as navigation and reduced anxiety about leaving the nest.
  • Research shows that these maternal experiences significantly alter brain functions, supporting improved learning and memory while decreasing stress responses, highlighting the profound impact of motherhood on brain changes.
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